System and method for providing interactive wireless data and voice based services

ABSTRACT

A system for providing remote interactive services to users of portable data and voice enabled communications devices, including users of SMS and WAP enabled communications devices. The system interfaces with a user of a communications device in a manner that employs a sequence of different types of interactive sessions over time. An interface with the user is provided that transitions between different types of communication sessions in real time, to appropriately and effectively respond to one or more requests transmitted from the user of the communications device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO APPLICATIONS INCLUDING RELATED SUBJECT MATTER

This patent application includes subject matter that is related to that of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/867,231, titled “A Voice XML Network Gateway”, filed Jun. 14, 2004 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a system and a method for providing interactive services to users of portable data and voice enabled communications devices, and specifically to providing directory assistance information and other types of services to users of short message service (SMS) data and 802.11 voice enabled devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system of the invention provides remote interactive services to users of portable data and voice enabled communications devices, including users of short message service (SMS), wireless application protocol (WAP) and multimedia messaging service (MMS) enabled communications devices. The system interfaces with a user of a communications device in a manner that employs a sequence of different types of interactive sessions over time. An interface with the user is provided that transitions between different types of communication sessions in real time, to appropriately and effectively respond to one or more requests transmitted from the user of the communications device.

For example, a user of a communications device may transmit a series of requests to the system using a data communications protocol, such as the SMS protocol, during a first SMS type of session. In response to one or more transmitted requests, the system may transition from the first SMS type of session to a second voice type of session that employs interactive voice communication with the user of the communications device. Upon completion of the second voice type of session, the system may return to a third SMS type of session to further respond to one or more requests that are communicated from the user. In response to one or more requests that are communicated during the third session, the system may transition into a fourth WAP type of session to effectively respond to the one or more requests communicated from the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment a system of providing SMS and voice based services to users of SMS and voice enabled communication devices.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating internals of an embodiment of the data-voice gateway that interfaces with a circuit switched voice network and that provides human operator services to a user of an SMS and voice enabled communications device.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating internals of an embodiment of the data-voice gateway that interfaces with a VoIP network and that provides human operator services to a user of an SMS and voice enabled communications device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the internals of an embodiment of the data-voice gateway that provides automated services to a user of an SMS and voice enabled communications device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the internals of an embodiment of the automated service module of the data-voice gateway.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating the internals of an embodiment of the gateway controller node of the data-voice gateway.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system providing directory assistance services to users SMS protocol enabled devices.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment a system of providing SMS and WAP based services to users of SMS and WAP enabled communication devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configured to provide services via data and/or voice session interaction with a user of a data and voice enabled communications device 100. The system of the invention inputs multiple types of request communications and outputs multiple types of response communications to a user of a device 100 that is enabled with respect to communication of voice and data.

In one type of embodiment, a user 102 of the device 100 transmits a request that is represented as text data within an SMS protocol communication 152 a. The communication 152 a is addressed to a SMS services node 130 having a known network protocol address, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

As shown, the device 100 resides within a local wireless communications network 150 that is a public land mobile network (PLMN) 150. The device 100 transmits the SMS communication 152 a via a first data communications protocol stack including a wireless communications protocol, such as the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) protocol. The communication 152 a is transmitted over the local communications network 150.

An SMS relay node 110 receives the request of the communication 152 a via the first protocol stack from local network 150 and re-transmits the request via a second protocol stack including the Internet Protocol (IP) over a data network 170, within a communication 172 a to a SMS services node 130 residing within the data network 170.

The SMS services node 130 receives the request of the communication 172 a via the second protocol stack from the data network 170 and processes the request. In one scenario, the request is for information, such as for telephone directory assistance information, associated with a name of a person specified within the communication 172 a.

In one type of embodiment, the SMS services node 130 accesses information sought by the request from its local data storage (not shown) and transmits an SMS communication 172 b to the SMS relay node 110 that is addressed back to the device 100 and that includes the information sought by the request communication 152 a. The information sought by the user 102 is encoded as text data within the communication 172 b. The SMS relay node 110 transmits a communication 152 b that is addressed back to the device 100 and that includes the information encoded as text data.

In another type of embodiment, the SMS services node 130 transmits a communication via communications channels 174 a-174 n to one or more other service nodes 132 a-132 n, such as a directory assistance server 132 a. Optionally, the directory assistance server 132 a may communicate with other service nodes 132 b-132 n to obtain information sought by the user 102 via the request communication 152 a.

The directory assistance server 132 a accesses the information sought by the request from its local data storage or from another server 132 b-132 n and transmits a communication via the communications channel 174 a to the SMS services node 130 that includes the information sought by the user 102. The SMS services node 130 transmits a communication 172 b including the information back to the SMS relay node 110 and the SMS relay node 110 transmits a communication 152 b including the information back to the communications device 100 as previously described.

The aforementioned types of embodiments involve providing directory assistance services via an SMS type of data/protocol session interaction with a user 102 of the communications device 100. These types of embodiments are further described in association with FIGS. 6 and 7. In other embodiments, other types of data/protocol sessions can be employed for providing services to the user 102.

In a variation of the previously described embodiments, the processing of the request 152 a can also include the establishment of an audio/voice type of session with the user 102. An audio/voice type of session interaction with the user 102 can include such as a voice dialog between the user 102 and a human operator or between the user 102 and an interactive voice response system.

In this type of embodiment, to initiate a voice session with the user 102 of the communications device 100, the SMS services node 130 transmits a communication 178 a to a data-voice network gateway 120. The data-voice network gateway 120 initiates an audio/voice session with the user 102 by transmitting a communication 180 a to voice services node 140 in order to contact the user 102 via the communications device 100.

The voice services node 140 transmits a communication 154 a to a voice relay node 112 and the voice relay node 112 transmits a communication 156 a to the device 100. The communications 180 a, 154 a and 156 a establish a “call” to the device 100 and initiate a voice session with the user 102 of the device 100.

A telephone number associated with the device 100 is used to address the device 100 within the voice network 190 and is included within the communication 178 a. Typically, the telephone number can be accessed via automated number identification (ANI) information residing within the communication 152 a and relayed to the SMS services node 130 via communication 172 a.

In some embodiments, the capabilities of the device 100, such as whether the device 100 is voice and/or MMS enabled, can be determined by accessing information describing the capabilities of the device 100 stored within a communications device (hand set) database (not shown). In some embodiments, the device database is accessed via a network server that is accessible over a wide area network, such as the Internet. In some embodiments, the database resides within the facilities of the wireless telephone carrier.

In some embodiments, the voice network 190 is implemented as a circuit switched voice network and the communications 180 a and 154 a are transmitted over a circuit switched voice network 190. (See FIG. 2A) In other embodiments, the voice network 190 is implemented as a voice over IP (VoIP) network and the communications 180 a and 154 a are constructed from VoIP packets and are transmitted over a VoIP packet switching type of network, and not circuit switched (See FIG. 2B). Regardless of the design of the voice network 190, the communication 156 a is transmitted over a wireless network 150 provided by a wireless telephone carrier.

In one type of embodiment, a live operator 142 a-142 n (FIG. 2A) is provided with information within the communication 180 a describing a status of and events occurring within the prior SMS session involving the SMS services node 130. In one variation of this embodiment, this information is displayed on a computer display 144 a-144 n (FIG. 2A) and/or “whispered” via a recorded voice audio communication via an audio speaker (not shown) located proximate to each of the computer displays 144 a-144 n.

In another type of embodiment, automated interactive voice response (IVR) functionality is provided within the data-voice network gateway 120 (FIG. 3). In this type of embodiment, the IVR functionality interacts with the user 102 by receiving touch tone input or voice that is communicated from the user 102 of the device 100 and/or by transmitting synthesized and/or recorded audio/voice to the user via the device 100.

In a variation of this type of embodiment, the interactive voice response functionality provides automatic speech recognition of voice communicated from the user 102 via the device 100 and provides transmission of text to synthesized speech to the user 102 via the device 100. In some embodiments, communications 180 a and 180 b can be implemented to carry VoIP data between the voice services node 140 and the data-voice network gateway 120.

As shown, the SMS relay node 110 and the voice relay node 112 both reside within the PLMN (wireless) network 150. The voice relay node 112 and the voice services node 140 both reside within the PSTN (wire line) network 190. The voice relay node 112 resides within both the PLMN (wireless) network 150 and the PSTN (wire line) network 190. The remaining servers and gateway reside outside of the PLMN (wireless) network 150 and the PSTN (wire line) network 190, and preferably reside within a managed Internet Protocol (IP) network 170.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the internals of the data-voice gateway 120 that interfaces with a circuit switched voice network 190 and that provides human operator assistance to the user 102 b of a data and voice enabled communications device 100. In this embodiment of the data-voice gateway 120 is implemented as a sub-network of nodes 222-226 which interoperate to enable interaction with a user 102 a-102 n of a communications device 100 a-100 n via data and/or voice types of sessions.

As shown, the data-voice gateway 120 includes a data-voice gateway controlling node 222, also referred to as a gateway controller node 222 or as an XML gateway node 222, a time division multiplexing switch node 224 and a media gateway node 226. The gateway controller node 222 communicates with the TDM switch node 224 via communication channel 232 a and communicates with the media gateway node 226 via communication channel 232 c.

The TDM switch communicates with the media gateway 226 via communications channel 232 b The communications channels 232 a-232 c are preferably configured for the transmission of Internet Protocol (IP) and UDP data communications protocols. The communications channel 232 b is preferably a dedicated channel, such as a hard wired connection.

The TDM switch node 224 is configured to provide circuit switching between telephone lines. A “telephone line” is a channel (path) of telephony communication between two entities, such as between two people. A “telephone line” is not necessarily an individual wire. Many “telephone lines” may exist on a single wire or an optical fiber at one time. Telephony communication typically occurs between two people, but can also occur between a person and an automated interactive voice response system.

The TDM switch node 224 performs a telephony (circuit) connection between a first person and a second person by connecting a first telephone line associated with a first telephone that is used by a first person to a second telephone line associated with a second telephone that is used by a second person. Likewise, for example, the TDM switch node 224 can connect the first telephone line to a third telephone line associated with an interactive voice response system. The aforementioned “telephone lines” are also be referred to as “call legs”.

The TDM switch node 224 is configured to be controlled via the communication of commands, also referred to as request communications that are received via its communications interface. The TDM switch node 224 receives request communications via the communications channel 232 a and performs actions where appropriate in response to each received request communication, and transmits a response communication to the source of the request communications via the communications channel 234 a where appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 1, the data-voice network gateway 120 receives a communication 178 a from the SMS services node 130 via the gateway controller node 222. The gateway controller node 222 processes the communication 178 a in order to initiate a voice session with the user 102 of the device 100. The gateway controller node 222 processes the communication 178 a in part, by directing the operation of the TDM switch node 224 and/or the operation of then media gateway node 226, depending upon the particularities of the request communication 178 a.

In one type of scenario, the communication 178 a requests the initiation of a voice session between the user 102 b and a human operator. In this scenario, the gateway controller node 222 directs the TDM switch 224 to initiate a first “call” the user 102 b by dialing a particular telephone number to “ring” the communications device (wireless telephone) 100 b associated with the user 102 b. Also, the gateway controller node 222 directs the TDM switch 224 to initiate a second “call” to an available operator 142 n in a similar manner as calling the user 102 b. The telephone number of the user 102 b is included within the communication 178 a transmitted from the SMS services node 130.

The aforementioned “calls” respectively establish a first call leg 234 a between the TDM switch node 224 and the user 102 b and a second call leg 234 b between the TDM switch node 224 and the available operation 142 n. The gateway controller node 222 then directs the TDM switch 224 to join the first and the second call legs together so that the available operator is listening to the “ring” of the communications device 100 and waiting for the user 102 to answer the first call.

If and when the user 102 b answers the ringing of the first call 234 a, the operator 142 n and the user 102 b can initiate a voice conversation (dialog). If the user does not answer, but a voice mailbox associated with the device 100 answers the first call, the operator 142 n can leave a voice message for the user 102 b including contact information.

Optionally, the gateway controller node 222 communicates information to the operator to assist the operator 142 n to provide services to the user 102 b. If a prior SMS session has been established between the SMS services node 130 and the user 102 b, information describing the status of and events occurring during the prior SMS session can be included within the communication 178 a and relayed by the gateway controller node 222 within the communication 180 a to the voice services node 140 via data network communication 234 c. The communications 234 b and 234 c are included within the communication 180 a of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating internals of an embodiment of the data-voice gateway that interfaces with a packet switched voice network 190 and that provides human operator services to a user of an SMS and voice enabled communications device 100 b. As shown, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 2A, no interface to a circuit switched network is employed by the data-voice network gateway 120. As a result, no TDM switch 224 and no media gateway 226 is included within this embodiment of the data-voice network gateway 120.

Instead, the data-voice network gateway 120 interfaces with a VoIP network 190 that provides for communication of voice that is encoded as digital data. In some embodiments, the VoIP network supports the communication of the Internet Protocol (IP) and further, the communication of digitally encoded voice via the Internet Protocol (VoIP).

In this type of embodiment, the gateway controller node 222 is configured to interface with a packet switched network interface 225 via a communications channel 233 a. In some embodiments, the packet switched network interface 225 is implemented as hardware and software, such as one or more network interface boards (cards) attached to a bus within the gateway controller node itself 222. In other embodiments, packet switched network interface 225 resides on a network addressable node, other than the gateway controller node 222, within a sub-network of the data-voice network gateway 120.

In this type of embodiment, the call legs 234 a and/or 234 b may not reside entirely over a packet switched network. For example, a circuit switched voice network that communicates with the telephones associated with the operators 142 a-142 n may reside inside the facilities of the voice services node 140. Likewise, a circuit switched voice network that communicates with a radio-frequency (RF) tower for the wireless local network 150 may reside inside of the voice relay node 112. In this type of embodiment, other gateway(s) that convert between digitized voice packets and circuit switch voice would reside along call legs 234 a and/or 234 b, such as within the facilities of the voice relay node 112 and/or the voice services node 140.

In some embodiments, the communications device 100 b may be implemented as a WiFi or WinMax telephone to enable transmission and reception of digitized voice packets, such as VoIP packets, directly from and to the device 100 b and without a need for circuit switching along the call leg 234 a. Likewise, the telephones associated with the operators 142 a-142 n may be implemented in the same manner.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the internals of the data-voice gateway 120 that provides automated service module 228 assistance to the user 102 b of a data and voice enabled communications device 100 b. In one use scenario, the communication 178 a requests the initiation of a voice session between the user 102 b and an automated service 228, such as an automated directory assistance service.

In this scenario, the gateway controller node 222 directs the TDM switch 224 to initiate a first “call” 234 a to the user 102 b by dialing a particular telephone number to “ring” the communications device (wireless telephone) 100 b associated with the user 102 b. The gateway controller node 222 also directs the TDM switch 224 to initiate a second “call” 234 c to the particular automated service module 228 that is addressed via a “port number”. The telephone number of the user 102 b and the port number of the automated service module 228 are included within the communication 178 a transmitted from the SMS services node 130.

The aforementioned first and second “calls” 234 a, 234 c respectively establish a first call leg 234 a between the TDM switch node 224 to the user 102 and a second call leg 234 c between the TDM switch node 224 and the media gateway node 226. The second call leg 234 c is for the purpose of communicating with a particular automated service 228 identified via the port number, via the media gateway node 226. An IP type of call leg 232 d connects the media gateway node to the automated service node 228. The gateway controller node 222 then directs the TDM switch node 224 to join the first 234 a and the second call legs 234 c together so that the operating state of the automated service module 228 is in waiting mode for the user 102 b to answer the first call 234 a.

The call to the particular automated service 228 via the port number is actually routed through the media gateway node 226. The media gateway node 226 translates voice received from the user 102 b into digitized voice and communicates the digital voice to the automated service 228 via the communications channel (IP call leg) 232 d.

In some embodiments, when the user 102 b answers the ringing of the first call, the automated service 228 transmits an initial voice message, encoded as digitized voice, to the media gateway 226 via the communications channel 232 d. The media gateway 226 translates the digitized voice into audio voice and communicates the audio voice to the user 102 b via call leg 234 c, the TDM switch 224 and the call leg 234 a joined with the call leg 234 c. The initial voice message may have been previously translated from recorded audio or translated from text that has been converted into digitized voice via a text to synthesized speech module.

In some embodiments, the automated service 228 is designed to receive touch tone input (FIG. 4) from the user 102 b. In other embodiments, the automated service 228 is designed to receive voice input from the user 102 b that is translated into textual information via an automated speech recognition module. In other embodiments, the automated service 228 is designed to receive both touch tone and voice input from the user 102 b (See FIG. 4).

If the automated service 228 is designed to receive voice input from the user 102 b, the media gateway 226 translates the audio representation of the users' voice into digitized voice data and communicates the digitized voice data to the automated service 228 via the communications channel 232 d. The automated service 228 employs automated speech recognition to interpret the semantics of the user's voice and text to synthesized speech to respond to the user 102 b.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the internals of the automated service module 228 of the data-voice gateway 120 of FIG. 1. As shown, the automated service module includes a VoiceXML interpreter module 330, an automatic speech recognition module 332 and a text to speech module 334. The automated service module 228 receives and inputs digitized audio from the media gateway node 226, in the form of digitized voice or digitized touch tones via the communication channel (IP call leg) 232 d. The automated service module 228 outputs digitized audio to the media gateway node 226, in the form of digitized and synthesized speech (voice) via the communication channel (IP call leg) 232 d.

The VoiceXML interpreter module 330 is a software module that inputs and processes VoiceXML script from one or more files 330 a-330 n. In some embodiments, the files 330 a-330 n may reside on a other server nodes 132 a-132 n. The VoiceXML interpreter module 330 invokes and interoperates with the automated speech recognition module 332 to interpret the digitized audio data received from the user 102 b. The VoiceXML interpreter module 330 invokes and interoperates with the speech to text module 334 to transmit digitized voice response communications to the user 102 b.

While executing, the VoiceXML interpreter module 330 may communicate with other service nodes 132 a-132 n to store and/or retrieve information to conduct the interactive dialog between the automated service module 228 and the user 102 b. For example, a directory assistance request received from the user 102 b in the form of digitized voice 232 d can be translated into text by the automatic speech recognition module 332 and transmitted to the directory assistance server 132 a by the VoiceXML interpreter 330. In response, the directory assistance server 132 a transmits directory assistance information in the form of text to the VoiceXML interpreter 330. The text to speech module 334 translates the text into digitized voice before being communicated to the user 102 b by the XML interpreter module 330.

In some embodiments, call control XML (CCXML) can be employed to implement an automated service, such as an interactive voice interface with a user 102 b. Also, speech application language tags (SALT) can be employed within XML or other script to implement an automated service providing an interactive voice interface with a user 102 b.

A flow of digitized audio, such as communicated through the communication channel 232 d, is also referred to as an audio stream. The flow of digitized audio that is communicated using the IP protocol, such as communicated by the communication channel 232 d, is also referred to as an IP call leg 232 d. An IP call leg functions like an audio call leg 234 a-234 c to communicate audio between two locations. But unlike an audio call leg 234 a-234 c, an IP call leg 232 d can be further controlled (manipulated) by digital logic, such as by one or more software modules.

At some point in time, the dialog between the user 102 b and the automated system 228 will end as a result of an action by the user 102 b and/or by the automated system 228. Optionally, the automated system may transfer its role in the dialog to another automated service or to a human operator.

In some embodiments, the automated service module 228 resides as a software module on the gateway controller node 222. In other embodiments, the automated service 228 resides on another node residing with the data-voice network gateway sub-network 120.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating the internals of an embodiment of the gateway controller node 222 of the data-voice gateway 120. The gateway controller node 222 is configured to receive communications from the SMS services node 130 and to direct the operation of the TDM switch node 224 and the media gateway node 226. The gateway controller node includes many software components including a session manager module 530, a resource manager module 522, a connection framework module 524 and a call agent module 526.

The gateway controller node 222 receives a communication 178 a requesting the initiation of a voice session with a user from the SMS services node 130 via the connection framework module 524. Information of the request communication 178 a is communicated to the session manager 520. The session manager 520 communicates with the resource manager 522 regarding whether resource availability enables the allocation of a new session. The resource manager 522 responds to allow or disallow the allocation of a new session.

If a session can be established, the session manager spawns a call agent 526 to establish audio and IP call legs to support the voice session. The call agent spawns any software modules required to conduct a dialog, such as an automated service module 228, where applicable. The call agent monitors the status of the session and performs call control operations upon the session. In some embodiments, a SIP protocol connection that is processed by the connection framework 524, is used to perform call control on the dialog, stream of digitized audio being communicated over communications channel (IP call leg) 232 d.

For sessions between a user and an operator, call control operations can place an entity on hold while another entity receives back ground music, for example. For sessions between a user and an automated service, call control operations can re-direct the session to another automated service in response to events occurring within the prior session.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment a system of providing directory assistance services to users of SMS protocol enabled devices. As initially described in association with FIG. 1, directory assistance can be provided during an SMS protocol session between the user 102 of the communications device 100 and the SMS services node 130.

In one type of use embodiment, the user 102 of the device 100 transmits a request for directory assistance within a communication 152 a that is addressed to an SMS services node 130, also referred to as an SMS server 130, having a known network protocol address. The request is represented by text data transmitted within the communications 152 a and 172 a.

The SMS services node 130 receives the request within communication 172 a and determines what actions are required to process it. Typically, a request for directory assistance includes name information for which telephone number and/or address information is sought by the requesting user 102. The name information is at least a portion of a name of an entity. An entity can be of a person, a business or government agency, for example.

The SMS services node 130 transmits a communication via communication channel 174 a to a directory assistance server 132 a to access telephone number and/or address information associated with the name information communicated from the user 102. If the telephone number and/or address information is not locally available to the directory assistance server 132 a, the directory assistance server transmits a communication 174 b to a content server 132 b.

The content server 132 b has direct access to a plurality of national directory assistance databases 134 a, a plurality of international directory assistance databases 134 b and a plurality of enhanced directory assistance databases 134 c. The content server 132 b transmits a response communication via communication channel 174 b to the directory assistance server 132 a which relays the communication over communications channel 174 a to the SMS services node 130.

As described for FIG. 1, the SMS services node transmits a response communication 172 b to the communications device 100 via the SMS relay node 110. The response communication includes telephone number and/or address information sought by the user 102. Typically, the SMS services node 130 transmits a response communication 172 b including at least one item (listing) of telephone and/or address information associated with a name information of the original request communication 152 a.

In some embodiments, within the request communication 152 a, the name information can be represented by a portion of a name. This feature is convenient in circumstances where a full and correct spelling of the name may not be known to the user 102 at the time of the request communication 152 a.

Optionally, at least one item of telephone and/or address information of the response communication 172 b is not fully revealed (at least partially hidden) so that the user 102 is not provided any complete listings. In this circumstance, the user has the option to request that a particular listing of telephone and/or address information be fully revealed. To do this, the user transmits a request communication 152 a to the SMS services node 130 requesting that the telephone number and/or address information be revealed. The SMS services node 130 then communicates a response 172 b including the fully revealed telephone number and/or address information (listing). In some embodiments, the providing of the fully revealed listing can constitute a billing event. Optionally, the system records a billable event and charges the user accordingly upon providing the telephone number and/or address information.

The transmission of a request communication 152 a from the device 100 and a resulting response communication 172 a transmitted from the SMS services node constitute an SMS message exchange. The SMS services node 130 is configured to maintain a persistent SMS communication session with the communications device 100 indefinitely and beyond one SMS message exchange.

In some circumstances, multiple items (listings) of telephone number and/or address information may potentially match the name information communicated from the user 102. As a result, the response communication 172 b includes multiple listings.

If the response communication 172 b includes multiple listings or listings longer than a particular limit, for example 160 characters, the response 172 b can be divided into multiple segments of SMS messages. The listings are received by the device 100 and displayed (formatted) by the device 100 for user 102 viewing and selection. An example embodiment of a format of a listing represented as a template is shown as follows. <Listing Index of the Total Number of Listings> <Listing Name> <Address> <City, State, ZIP> <Telephone Number>

An example of (2) such listings are shown as follows:

-   -   1 of 2     -   Home Depot     -   123 Main St     -   Atlanta, Ga. 30342     -   404-123-4567     -   2 of 2     -   Home Depot     -   678 Peachtree Blvd.     -   Atlanta, Ga. 31014     -   404-443-8400

As shown above, the first listing has an index identifier of “1” of 2 total listings and the second listing has an index identifier of “2” of 2 total listings. The user 102 can later use the index identifier to reference a particular listing using other request codes. A range of listings, identified by a corresponding range of indexes, can be communicated to the user 102 per SMS message communication 172 a.

An example of a partially revealed listing, excluding telephone number information, is shown as follows:

-   -   1 of 2     -   Home Depot     -   123 Main St     -   Atlanta, Ga. 30342     -   2 of 2     -   Home Depot     -   678 Peachtree Blvd.     -   Atlanta, Ga. 31014

An example of a lookup with caption record is shown as follows:

-   -   1 of 1     -   Atlanta General Hospital     -   Outpatient Services     -   100 Peach Street     -   Atlanta, Ga. 30333     -   404-555-9999

In some embodiments, reverse directory assistance services are provided. The user communicates telephone number information within the request communication 152 a and the SMS services node 130 responds with name and/or address information associated with the telephone number information, if the telephone number is listed. If the telephone number is not listed, the SMS services node 130 responds with a message informing the user 102 that the telephone number is not listed and cannot be provided. Optionally, the name and/or address information is not fully revealed until a billable request is transmitted by the user 102 to the SMS services node 130.

In one type of embodiment, a request syntax communication for a business, residential and government directory assistance search, includes two fields that identify a name and a locality and that are separated by one or more spaces (<name><locality>). Examples of this type of syntax include “Home Depot 30342”, “Starbucks Atlanta Ga.”, “Doppler 110111”, and “Motor Vehicles Atlanta Ga.”.

Additionally, a plurality of alphabetic request codes (A-Z) and numerals (0-9) are recognized within a request syntax communication from the user 102. If the user 102 fails to remember any of the alphabetic request codes, he may obtain help information by sending a help request code “H”.

Some embodiments of the invention provide various types of flow control functions. Flow control can be exercised in circumstances where the number of listings exceeds a pre-determined amount. For example, when the number of listings exceeds a pre-determined amount that equals a configurable parameter associated with the device 100, the SMS services node 130 informs the user and advises the user to communicate a revised request that would likely result in fewer listings. In response, the user can communicate a revised request 152 a to the SMS server. An embodiment of such a prompt to the user is shown as follows.

-   -   “TOO MANY LISTINGS SELECT     -   1->RESIDENCE     -   2->BUSINESS     -   3->GOVERNMENT”

Advanced parsing of the request communication can reveal certain types of mistakes. Examples of such mistakes include typographical or spelling errors, mismatched zip codes etc. The SMS service node 130 can transmit types of communications 172 b to the user 102 including suggestions to correct mistakes previously communicated by the user and that allow the user to select among multiple alternative request choices. Alternatively, the user can transmit a request code to the SMS services node 120 to specifically correct or ignore a previously communicated request.

The user can communicate 152 a various other request codes to the SMS services node. These codes are listed as follows.

-   -   N Receive next listing if multiple listings are available;     -   P Receive previous listing if multiple listings are available;     -   O Request Operator backing;     -   L Last Request; and     -   H Send help information.

In an exemplary SMS session, a user 102 transmits a request for directory assistance by communicating 152 a the text string “Dominos 32072” to the SMS services node 130. In response, the SMS services node 130 transmits the following SMS message 172 b to the device 100.

-   -   1 of 8     -   Domino's Pizza     -   461 Ponce De Leon Ave NE     -   Atlanta, Ga. 30308     -   404-874-0030

In response, the user transmits a request 152 a identified by a request code “N” to the SMS service node 130. In response, the SMS services node 130 transmits the next listing to the user 102 of the device 100 as follows.

-   -   2 of 8     -   Domino's Pizza     -   3300 Buford Hwy     -   Atlanta, Ga. 30329     -   404-872-3000

The user 102 can transmit a request identified by the request code “P” to the SMS service node 130. In response, the SMS services node 130 transmits the previous listing to the user 102 of the device 100 as follows.

-   -   1 of 8     -   Domino's Pizza     -   461 Ponce De Leon Ave NE     -   Atlanta, Ga. 30308     -   404-874-0030

The user 102 can transmit a request identified by the request code text “0” to the SMS service node 130 to specifically request voice communication with a human operator. In response, the SMS services node 130 establishes a voice session between the user 102 and an available human operator as described in association with FIG. 2A. This feature is also referred to as operator backing. Operator backing allows a user to obtain operator assistance when the user fails to obtain the correct listing through the SMS session.

In some embodiments, each listing of a multiple listing search result can contain a listing index (sequence) number, such as 1 of 10. Users can request additional listings by replying with the “N” request code to receive the next listing. Other request codes can be defined to request other actions of the SMS service node 130.

Short codes are SMS addresses that are employed to identify and distinguish different SMS users and different SMS services. For example, a short code having a value equal to 411 can be assigned to identify a particular SMS based directory assistance service and a short code having a value equal to 2411 can be assigned to identify another SMS based service.

As described earlier, SMS communications that are longer than a particular limit, for example 160 characters, may be sent as multiple SMS messages, also referred to as multi-segmented SMS messages. A network designed in accordance with the global system for mobile communication (GSM) standard would enforce the 160 character limit while other networks would likely enforce other limits.

Simple formatting rules can be employed to divide communications into multiple messages. For example, a phone number may not be split between two messages. In some embodiments, billing codes or ‘sent from’ addresses can be selected to control which SMS messages are billable. For example, for multi-segmented messages, a first message can be defined as the start of a particular session and subsequent messages that reside within the particular session would not be further billed. But a message defining the start of a new session could be billed.

In some embodiments, the invention supports various reporting functions. For example, an accounting component can provide daily statistics of total messages sent, what type of message (residential, business, government, reverse DA), and any associated billing data. In some embodiments, the invention supports the implementation of various pricing components. These may include, for example, licensing fees for system operator software, setup and maintenance fees, data access fees, and transaction fees per MO SMS.

In some embodiments, the invention provides mobile originated (MO) SMS international directory assistance (IDA) 134 b and/or an enhanced directory assistance (EDA) 134 c. Enhanced directory assistance 134 c provides access to information relating to various entities, activities and events. For example, enhanced directory assistance information may include such as scheduled movie showing times and ski reports. An example of such a service allows a user to transmit a request identified by the following text.

-   -   Mov Shrek2 32072.

In response, the SMS services node 130 transmits information describing a schedule of movie showing times over the next 4 hours, or alternatively over other periods of time, for which the movie Shrek2 is scheduled to be shown in theaters, inside or proximate to the geographic area of the ZIP code 32072.

Other requests codes for other enhanced data services can be made available to the user. For example, the following request codes can be defined as follows: Request Code Description MOV Movie Listings and Times by Zip/City and Movie RES Restaurant Reviews by Restaurant WEA Weather Reports by Zip/City STK Stock Quotes by ticker SPT Sports Scores for NHL/MLB/NHL/NBA LOC Local Events by ZIP/City AIR Airport Delays by Airport code/ZIP/City SKI Ski Reports by Resort TRA Traffic Reports by ZIP

In some embodiments, the invention provides personalized request codes. A web interface or request codes (commands) enable a user to personalize his request codes. For example, a user may want to create another request code to represent a movie query. In this case the user may define an “alias” request code for his personal use. For example, the request code “M” can be set to be equivalent to the request code “Mov”, identifying a <movie> request code. As applied to the previously described example, the request regarding the movie “Shrek2” can be indicated via the request syntax “M Shrek2” when communicated by the user 102, in addition to the default request syntax “Mov Shrek2 32072” used apart from the personalized request code syntax version.

Session based billing provides for a correlation of each response from the SMS services node 130 with the original requests communicated from the user 102. This enables an SMS service provider to charge users on a per-session basis, as opposed to a per-message basis.

Some session events are classified (configurable) as non-billable events. In some embodiments, certain MO messages to be tagged as non-billable events. Examples include request communications to view next/previous set of listings within the same session and to respond to error messages communicated from the SMS services node 130. Optionally, requests for operator backing and lost information due to a communication failure messages may be tagged as non-billable events.

Configurable billable events also may be tagged by default. These may include certain requests for which the user is charged. Examples include a post-TTL (Time-to-Live) query for a recent listing. Such a default configuration may be changed by the SMS service provider through an interface, for example a web-based interface, to SMS services node 130. A configurable TTL parameter offers flexibility to the service provider to bill messages differently within a certain time period. For example, if a user asks for the same listing within the TTL time period, a chronological window of 10 minutes for example, the provider may decide not to charge the user again for the same listing.

A message throttle feature allows the SMS services node 130 to execute flow control so that when the number of listings exceeds a limit, the SMS services node 130 can suspend communication of SMS messages to the user 102 and prompt the user 102 for more information to narrow the directory assistance search.

A message concatenation feature allows the SMS services node 130 to divide long messages (exceeding 160 characters) into multiple segments. Advanced text parsing in the SMS services node 130 allows pre-processing of request communications from the user 102 to identify errors. The SMS services node 130 uses procedural scripts that look for missing information within a request communication 152 a, such as spelling mistakes, typographical errors etc. When errors are found, the SMS services node 130 transmits a response communication 172 b to the user 102 as a prompt including suggestions for correcting the previous request communication 152 a.

In some embodiments, the SMS services node 130 employs multiple short codes for record keeping purposes. The SMS services node 130 assigns a short code as a source address to each communication 172 b that is transmitted from the SMS services node 130 and addressed to each of one or more devices 100. The SMS services node uses the assigned short codes to associate a request communication 172 a with a response communication 172 b while it 130 communicates with a plurality of devices 100. Service providers can use this functionality to offer flexible session based billing.

Some embodiments support bilingual user interfaces, such those which support both English and Spanish, for example. Communication devices 100 capable of supporting special characters, can be provided a user interface consistent with such special character support.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment a system of providing SMS and WAP based services to users of SMS and WAP enabled communication devices. As shown, a response to a request communication 152 a for directory assistance can yield a response 172 a including telephone number and/or address information as described for FIG. 6. The response can further include uniform resource locator (URL) information 712 that is included within the response communication 152 b and stored inside of the device 100. The URL includes an IP address for the WAP server 132 c.

As shown, the device 100 includes a WAP browser 710. The user 102 can direct the WAP browser 710 to access the URL 712 and transmit a communication 752 a that is addressed to the WAP server 132 c via the SMS relay node 110. The communication 752 b arrives at the WAP server as communication 772 b and includes the URL 712 as a destination address for the WAP server 132 c. In response, the WAP server 132 c transmits a response communication 772 b addressed to the device 100 via the SMS relay node 110. The response communication may include map and traveling information associated with a listing responding to the original request communication 152 a. The response communication 772 b is received by the device 100 as communication 752 b.

The device 100 displays the communication 752 b via the WAP browser 710. The WAP browser 710 displays the map and traveling information associated with a listing responding to the original request communication 152 a. This type of response communication 172 b, 152 b is also referred to as a WAP Push message. A WAP push message can include a WAP server URL link that is transmitted from the SMS Services node 130 to the user 102 of the communications device 100. A WAP Push message can provide a broader menu of services to the user 102.

For example, if a user 102 receives a listing for Home Depot, he could be pointed to a WAP page via a URL within a WAP push message. The WAP page can include driving directions, maps, store hours, traffic reports, etc, that directed to the store location associated with the listing.

In some use scenarios, while viewing the WAP page, the user 102 can interact with the system via a voice session. In one type of use scenario, an explanation of the WAP page is provided by a human operator 142 a-142 n. Depending upon the capabilities of the device 100, the user 102 may be able to interact with the system via data session, such as an SNS, WAP or MMS session and simultaneously interact with the system via a voice session.

In other embodiments, like WAP, a multimedia messaging service (MMS) type of session can be provided to interact with communications devices having digital camera capabilities using an MMS server. In this type of embodiment, an MMS message referencing a digital image, is communicated to the device and displayed by the device 100 to the user 102. The user 102 may opt to continue to interact with the SMS services node 130 within an MMS session or to transition to a session of another type, as is the case with a WAP, SMS or a voice type of session.

Also, location based services can be provided to interact with communications devices 100 that are enabled to communicate location information to the system. Response communications from the SMS services node 130 to the device 100 would be conditioned upon the location of the device 100.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. 

1. A system for providing information to a user of a short message service (SMS) enabled communication device, comprising: an SMS server configured for communicating with an SMS enabled communications device during a first SMS session, said SMS server is configured for receiving one or more requests communicated from a user of said SMS enabled communications device and configured for causing a transmission of at least one of multiple types of response communications in response to receiving each of said one or more requests; and where each of said multiple types of response communications is a member of a set of types of response communications, said set including at least an SMS type of response communication and an audio type of response communication.
 2. The system of claim 1 where said SMS server causes a transmission of said audio type of response communication in response to receiving one or more SMS request communications from said user, said SMS enabled communications device being also enabled to communicate said audio type of response communication to said user and communicating said audio type of response communication to said user.
 3. The system of claim 1 where said SMS server causes a transmission of said audio type of response communication in response to receiving one or more SMS request communications from said user, said audio type of response communication being a voice type of response communication.
 4. The system of claim 3 where said SMS enabled communications device is also enabled to communicate said voice type of response communication to said user and communicates said voice type of response communication to said user.
 5. The system of claim 3 where said voice type of response communication is communicated to said user via a device other than said SMS enabled communications device.
 6. The system of claim 3 where said voice type of response communication is an interactive voice session between said user and said system.
 7. The system of claim 4 where said interactive voice session is between said user and a human operator of said system.
 8. The system of claim 3 and where said SMS server causes said transmission of said voice type of response communication by transmitting a voice session initiating communication to a data-voice network gateway.
 9. The system of claim 8 where voice session initiating communication includes information describing a status of and events occurring during said first SMS session.
 10. The system of claim 7 where said human operator is provided information describing a status of, and events occurring during, said first SMS session.
 11. The system of claim 6 where said interactive voice session is provided between said user and an interactive voice response (IVR) system.
 12. The system of claim 8 where said data-voice network gateway employs voice extensible markup language (VXML).
 13. The system of claim 8 where said data-voice network gateway employs call control extensible markup language (CCXML).
 14. The system of claim 8 where said data-voice network gateway employs speech application language tags (SALT).
 15. The system of claim 8 where said data-voice network gateway employs session initiation protocol (SIP).
 16. The system of claim 1 where said SMS enabled communications device is a mobile wireless telephone and said requests are relayed from said user and to said SMS server via equipment controlled by a wireless telephone carrier.
 17. The system of claim 7 where said interactive voice session between said human operator and said user is terminated and a second SMS session between said SMS server and said user of said SMS enabled communications device is initiated.
 18. The system of claim 7 where said interactive voice session between said human operator and said user is terminated by said human operator and followed by the human operator causing a transmission of a response communication including a text to speech (TTS) or pre-recorded audio message.
 19. The system of claim 1 where said set of types of response communications further includes a wireless application protocol (WAP) type of response communication.
 20. The system of claim 19 where said SMS enabled communications device is also configured to provide wireless application protocol (WAP) browser functionality that processes and displays said (WAP) type of response communication to said user.
 21. The system of claim 20 where said SMS server causes the communication of a WAP push message to said SMS enabled communication device, said WAP push message optionally includes a uniform resource locator (URL) that is processed by said WAP browser functionality of said SMS enabled communication device.
 22. The system of claim 21 where said WAP type of response communication includes map information for providing traveling directions to said user of said SMS enabled communications device.
 23. The system of claim 1 where in response to receiving a first SMS request communication, said SMS server causes the transmission of a first SMS type of response communication by communicating a first SMS response communication to said user of said SMS enabled communications device and where a grouping of a request communication from said user and a subsequent response communication from said server defines an SMS message exchange and where one SMS session includes one or more SMS message exchanges before being terminated by either said user or said SMS server.
 24. The system of claim 23 where a first request communication from said user includes a specific request for interactive voice communication with a human operator.
 25. The system of claim 23 where said SMS server provides enhanced directory assistance information relating to various entities, activities and events and where a first request communication from said user includes a first portion of information associated with an entity, activity and/or event and where a first response communication includes a second portion of information associated with said entity, activity and/or event.
 26. The system of claim 25 where said first portion includes a movie name and a zip code and where said second portion includes one or more items of information, each said item of information constituting a movie listing and including at least a location and a time associated with a scheduled showing of a movie.
 27. The system of claim 23 where said first SMS response communication includes a set of one or more items of information, and where each of said items of information is communicated in association with an identifier assigned by said SMS server.
 28. The system of claim 23 where said identifier is an index and where said response communication from said SMS server includes a range of said indexes associated with said one or more entities, and where a second request includes at least one index associated with one of said one or more items of information from said response communication.
 29. The system of claim 24 where each said identifier is configured to be optionally included within or referenced by one or more requests that are later communicated from said user of said SMS enabled communications device to said SMS server within one SMS session.
 30. The system of claim 23 where said SMS server provides information relating to telephone directory assistance.
 31. The system of claim 30 where a first request communication from said user includes the name of an entity and where an associated first SMS response communication from said SMS server includes telephone number and/or address information of one or more entities each having a name at least similar to said name of an entity.
 32. The system of claim 31 where said telephone and/or said address information is at least partially hidden from said user and where said user communicates a second request including said identifier to reveal said partially hidden information of at least one entity.
 33. The system of claim 32 where upon communication of said second request, said SMS server causes a billable event to be recorded and/or causes a chronological window of a particular length of time to be initiated and where re-communication of said first and/or said second request within said chronological window does not cause another billable event to be recorded.
 34. The system of claim 30 where a first request communication from said user includes a telephone number and an associated first SMS response communication from said SMS server includes a name and/or address information associated with an entity that is associated with said telephone number.
 35. The system of claim 23 where a request communication includes an association of an alias name with an original name of a particular request to enable said user to later communicate said alias name as a substitute for said original name.
 36. The system of claim 23 where a second SMS request communication includes a next or a previous request that references a particular SMS response communication transmitted after or prior to transmission of said second SMS request communication to said SMS server.
 37. The system of claim 23 where a second SMS request communication includes a correction request that requests revision to said first SMS request communication.
 38. The system of claim 23 where said SMS server is configured to perform advanced parsing of said SMS request communication, said advanced parsing can perform a correct interpretation of an SMS request communication that includes incomplete and/or incorrect information, said incorrect information including spelling and/or typographical errors.
 39. A apparatus for providing information to a user of a short message service (SMS) enabled communication device, comprising: an SMS server configured for communicating with an SMS enabled communications device during a first SMS session, said SMS server is configured for receiving one or more requests communicated from a user of said SMS enabled communications device and configured for causing a transmission of at least one of multiple types of response communications in response to receiving each of said one or more requests; and where each of said multiple types of response communications is a member of a set of types of response communications, said set including at least an SMS type of response communication and an audio type of response communication.
 40. A method for providing information to a user of a short message service (SMS) enabled communication device, comprising the steps of: providing an SMS server configured for communicating with an SMS enabled communications device during a first SMS session, said SMS server is configured for receiving one or more requests communicated from a user of said SMS enabled communications device and configured for causing a transmission of at least one of multiple types of response communications in response to receiving each of said one or more requests; and where each of said multiple types of response communications is a member of a set of types of response communications, said set including at least an SMS type of response communication and an audio type of response communication. 